Water closet control system

ABSTRACT

A water closet control system includes a snap action water valve which is manually operable to initiate a closet-flushing operation, and fluid logic devices, operable by water supplied to the closet, which control a discharge valve for evacuating water from the closet, sense the water level in the closet and close the snap-action valve when the closet is refilled to the proper level.

United States Patent 1191 Ogles'by Nov. 5, 1974 [541 WATER CLOSET CONTROL SYSTEM 2,534,524 12/1950 Molloy 4 41 2,957,]81 10/1960 L' l 4/26 [75] Inventor: Cec'l Oglesby, Manchester 3,621,495 11 /1971 4/D1G. 3 [73] Assignee: Borg-Warner Corporation, Chicago,

111. Primary Examiner.lohn W. l-luckcrt w 7 t Assistant Examiner-Jon W. Henry [22] 1973 Attorney, Agent, or F irrri Herman Efsmith 211 App]. No.: 346,398

ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 4/41, 4/67 R, 4/249 A Water closet control system includes a snap action [51] Int. Cl 136353736 w r valv which is manually operable to initiate a [58] Field of Searchf; 4/10, 26, 30, 31, 41, 52, closet-flushing operation, and fluid logic devices, op-

4/65, 67 A, 67 R, 100, 1 15, 249, DIG. 3; erable by water supplied to the closet, which control 21 137/391; 251/144 discharge valve for evacuating water from the closet,

sense the water level in the closet and close the snap- [56] References Cited action valve when the closet is refilled to the proper UNITED STATES PATENTS level 1,997,401 4/1935 Barce 4/30 6 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure 66 45 43 3 6! 1 HQ r L HIGH WATER LEVEL /i All H II 47 f BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to water closet control systems and more particularly to a water closet control system including fluid logic devices for controlling the discharge of water from the closet, and shutoff of water to the closet when it isrefilled to the proper level.

Many presently available water closet control systems utilize a lever to unseat the water discharge or exhaust valve, gravity to reclose the valve, and a lever and float ball to open and reclose the main water inlet valve. This type of system often malfunctions in one or more of the following ways; the exhaust valve fails to return to its seat after the water closet is empty; the exhaust valve returns to its seat but not securely so that the closet continuously exhausts; the float ball fails to fall with the water level and therefore the water inlet line does not open; the float ball does not rise with the water level and therefore the main valve is never closed; the float ball does not adjust properly and either closes the main valve before the tank is completely full or it does not rise high enough to close the main water valve completely.

Several proposals have been made to solve these problems relating to malfunctioning of the conventional water closet system; one proposal concerns the provision of a novel water level-detecting and automatic shut-off arrangement employing a combination impact diaphragm valve and fluid logic device assembly including a pilot valve manually opened to provide flow of water to a fluid logic device in the form of a main valve fluidic switch which opens a main valve to empty the tank, changes of the water level by subsequent filling of the tank being sensed by the fluidic switch to control closing of the supply of water by the valves to the tank, the two valves and fluidic switch being incorporated in a single housing. This valve and fluidic switch assembly appears to be complex in construction, the fluidic switch requiring intricate contours with critical internal control profiles and their exacting disposition relative to specially designed valves to insure the assembly properly functioning as a water control system. A further disadvantageous factor is the compact necessary crowding of the valves and fluidic switch into a single housing with consequent expensive manufacturing costs and maintenance.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved water closet control system employing fluid logic devices to control the discharge of water from the closet, to sense emptying of the closet, to sense refilling of the closet to the proper level, and to stop the flow of water into the closet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved water closet control system, including valves, and controlling fluid logic devices operable by the water supplying the closet, once the system is energized by actuating a push button.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved water closet controlsystem employing a plurality of valves and controlling fluid' logic devices of simple construction in a practical assembly and capable of reliably and properly functioning cooperatively while in spaced relation to each other.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description together with the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE'DRAWING The single FIGURE of the'drawing is a schematic drawing of a water closet control system according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, the reference character S generally indicates a water closet control system having its components positioned within the water closet tank T, the tank being broken away to show its top and bottom walls 10 and 11, front and-rear walls 12 and 13 and a side wall 14 for the purpose of disclosing the components, including a source of water80 under pressure, a water inlet conduit 15, a conduit 16 connected to conduit 15 and to an exit conduit 17, and a main snap action inlet valve 18 controlling water flow from conduit 16 into conduit 17 and into the tank.

The inlet valve 18 can take a variety of forms such as a ball, cylinder, or diaphragm. In the illustrated embodiment the inlet valve comprises a ball 19 disposed in housing .9 having a face'8l engaging seat 82 closing the right end ofconduit 16 -to normally prevent water flowing through conduit 16 into the conduit 17 and tank T. The valve face 81 and seat 82 are'arranged such that a lesser portion of the area of the face is exposed to fluid pressure in conduit 16 when the valve is closed, a greater face area being exposed to pressure fluid when the valve is open. The ball. 19 is in contact with a control rod 20 extending outwardly of the tank'front wall 12 and having a manually actuatable push button 21 for controlling movement of the rod 20and ball 19, to unseat, the ball. The rod 20 also extends through and is slidable in a support portion22 of the tank connected to the tank side walls. A coil spring23 surrounds the rod 20 and has its opposite ends engaging the support portion 22 and a collar 24 fixed to the rod for returning control button 21 to its initial position and reseating valve 26 after manual actuation thereof. A first fluid motor including ball 30 and chamber 34 together with biasing spring 32 providemeans for closing snap action inlet valve 18. The conduit 16 is connected to a conduit 25 so that water under pressure in conduits 15 and 16 can flow into conduit 25 when reset valve 26 is opened. The reset valve 26 has a seal member 27 fixed to the rod'20 and engaging an annular seat 28 of conduit 25 to normally close the passage between the conduits 16 and 25, the seal member moving to open' the passage when control button 21 is pushed. The conduit 25" is connected to a fluid logic device 29 for a purpose to" be later described.

Where the watersupply pressure is constant. the

valve 18 could be held in its normally closed position by a biasing spring, however, many water supplysystems vary in pressure to an extent making: it desirable to counteract the affect of widelyfluctuating water pressure conditions. For this reason it is desirable to provide pressure compensatingmeans. The pressure compensating means includes the diaphragm 33 forming a movable seat for biasing spring 32. The position of diaphragm 33 is controlled by compensating spring 31 acting on one side thereof while pressure in chamber 36 acts on the other side thereof, the chamber36 being connected to passage through conduit 37. The ball 30 is disposed in cylindrical portion 35, and rollably engages the cylindrical portion 35 and ball 19, moving longitudinally of the chamber. The diaphragm 33 is disposed in, and has its circular edge connected to, the cylindrical portion of chamber 36 and is movable longitudinally in one direction thereof by spring 31 and, in the other direction, by water under pressure flowing into the portion 36 through a conduit 37 connected to the conduit 15. Springs 31 and 32 permit the system to function under widely fluctuating line pressure conditions. For example, if the line pressure drops to a lower value, the compensating spring 31 compressed between diaphragm 33 and a casing wall, will force diaphragm 33 toward the right allowing spring 32 to extend such that it exerts a correspondingly lower closing force on the ball 30 and 19. On the other hand, if line pressure increases, the increased pressure in chamber 36 moves the diaphragm toward the left, compressing biasing spring 32 which then exerts a correspondingly greater closing force on balls 30 and 19.

The system is activated by pushing control button 21 which opens reset valve 26 and snap action main inlet valve 18. As flow occurs through valves 26 and 18, the pressure in conduit 15 drops causing the pressure to drop in conduit 37 and chamber 36. A pressure reduction in chamber 36 allows diaphragm 33 to move toward the right thereby increasing the length of spring 32 and decreasing the force exerted on balls 30 and 19. At the same time, the pressure in conduits 16 and 17 is exhibited on a greater area of ball 19 thereby tending to hold ball 19 in its open position against the reduced closing force of spring 32. The water pressure will hold these balls in this position until a counter pressure is introduced into the cylindrical portion 35 of motor chamber 34 which tends to move the balls to the left. Ball 30 pushes ball 19 back onto its seat closing offline pressure from conduit 16 to conduit 17. It will be noted that, once the opening of valve 18 is initiated, the pressure in the chamber 36 will drop permitting the valve 18 to move easily to the opened position.

A discharge valve 38 is provided in the bottom wall 11 of the tank T to provide for exhausting water from the tank into the closet bowl. The valve 38 comprises a movable valve member 39 within the tank T and seated on its bottom wall 11 for closing the exhaust opening 40 in this wall. The valve member 39 is held in sealing engagement with the bottom wall by a coil spring 41 compressed between the bottom wall and a flexible diaphragm 42 connected by a rod 43 to the valve member. The diaphragm 42 is positioned within and connected to a cylindrical hollow depending portion 44 of the wall 11 and defines therewith a second fluid motor including an upper chamber 45 and a lower chamber 46. Water under pressure is admitted through an opening 47 in wall portion 44 to the lower chamber 46 to cause upward movement of the diaphragm 42 to lift the valve member 39 for flow of water from the tank through opening 40 and outlet conduit 48 of the tank into the closet bowl. When the water pressure is released in chamber 46, the spring 41 operates to move the diaphragm 42 downwardly to cause the valve member 39 to close the exhaust opening 40 in the tank.

The water closet control system is provided with a fluid logic circuit including a plurality of fluidic switching gates 29, 50 and 51 instrumental, in the performance of the complete cycle of the system to control the fluid flow and water levels, after the cycle is initiated by pushing control button 21. More particularly, the fluid switching gate 29 is a bistable fluidic amplifier of the wall attachment type, and the fluid logic devices 50 and 51 are monostable amplifiers in the form of OR/- NOR gates. Referring to the fluidic amplifier 29, this bistable unit may issue flow to either output leg 52 or 53 when the flow is initiated through supply port 54. The amplifier 50 is an OR/NOR gate with its power jet being indicated at 55, the NOR leg of this amplifier, with both control ports 86, 87 vented to atmosphere, is the right leg 56, the OR leg being the left leg 57. Amplifier 51 is also an OR/NOR gate, having NOR leg 58 and OR leg 59, and which, when both control ports 89, 90 are open to atmosphere, causes flow to issue from the NOR leg 58.

Considering now the fluid logic circuitry, with reference to the amplifiers 29, 50 and 51 and their operative connection to the inlet, reset, and exhaust valves 18, 26 and 38, to provide a complete cycle of the system which, as previously noted, is controlled by the fluid flow and high and low water levels 60 and 66, after the control button 21 is pushed to energize the control system. Initiation of operation of the system cycle is obtained by pushing control button 21 to cause the reset valve 26 and inlet valve 18 to open, the water pressure in conduits 15, 16 and 17 holding the balls to their broken line positions, until some counter pressure is introduced into chamber portion 35 tending to move the balls to their original valve-closing positions. Water under pressure flows through 17 into tank T, and also through conduit 62 into the supply port 54 and power jet of amplifier 29, and through conduit 63 into the right control port 83 of amplifier 29. Since amplifier 29 is a bistable unit which may issue flow to either output when flow is initiated through conduit 62, the flow through conduit 63 is introduced so that the stream will always be reset to the left leg 52 when the unit is actuated. lt will be noted that this reset flow is turned off as soon as the push button is released, a necessary function since later in the sequence of operations. the amplifier will not be reset to the left leg again which would restart exhausting water from the closet tank. At this point, fluid flows through amplifier 29 and is emitted from the left leg 52 and directed through conduit 64 into the supply port 85 and power jet 55 of the OR/- NOR gate 50. The NOR of this amplifier, with both control ports 86, 87 vented to atmosphere, is the right leg 56. However, the left control port 87 is connected to submerged vent tube 67 thereby preventing air from flowing through the left control port so that the stream attaches to the left leg 57. Flow into this leg is directed through conduit 65 into the chamber 46 and against diaphragm 42 which, when the pressure is sufficiently high, will move.upward to unseat valve member 39 of valve 38 to exhaust water from the tank into the closet bowl. The exhaust valve 38 will remain open until the water level reaches the lower end 66 of the vent tube 67. Since the amplifier 50 can now draw air to both control ports, the stream will switch to the NOR leg 56. Flow is directed from this leg into the control port 84 of amplifier 29 opposite the control port 83 where the reset flow was originally introduced, causing the flow to switch the power stream, flowing through amplifier 29, into the right leg 53. lt should be noted that amplifier 50 is now not in communication to any flow which could cause the exhaust valve 38 to attempt to reopen during the cycle. Amplifier 50 cannot become active again until a new cycle is initiated and water flows through reset valve 26 and conduit 63. This feature is important to insure that the exhaust valve will not be forced to reopen as the water level rises above the lower end 66 of vent tube 67.

Water flowing from the right leg 53 of bistable gate 29 is directed into the supply port 88 of gate 51 through conduit 68. Amplifier 51 is an OR/NOR gate which, when both control ports 89, 90 are open to atmosphere, causes water to issue from the NOR leg 58. At this point in the cycle, the water level in the tank is low and, accordingly, both control ports 89, 90 are vented to atmosphere, and water flows through the NOR leg 58. The NOR leg 58 is vented to the tank since, until the water level reaches the high water level, no more sequencing functions need to be performed. When the water rises above the opening in the vent tube 69, the water flowing through amplifier 51 will switch to the OR leg 59 and be directed through conduit 70 into the fluid motor for the inlet valve which includes ball 30 and chamber portion 35. A pressure rise in chamber portion 35 will cause a force to be imparted to ball 30 which will move balls 30 and 19 towards the water pressure outlet 82 of conduit 16. As the ball 19 nears the outlet, a reduced pressure will occur between the ball and its seat. This low pressure on one side of ball 19 and the force applied to the right side of ball 30, will cause ball 19 to snap against its seat to seal it and prevent water under pressure flowing from conduit 16 to exhaust conduit 17. Simultaneously, as the ball 19 nears the outlet, the water under pressure in conduit 37 and in chamber 36 will rise and cause actuation of the diaphragm 33 to give a further force to closing of the valve 18, and terminating a complete cycle of the control system. The control system is inoperable until the control button 21 is pushed again. The snap action is important in that it prevents objectionable valve chatter.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom including:

a source of fluid under pressure;

passage means arranged for conducting fluid from said source to said container;

a normally closed inlet valve having a movable closure member disposed in said passage means, said closure member including a face arranged for exerting an opening force on said closure member in response to pressure fluid in said passage means, having a lesser effective area exposed to said pressure fluid in a seated condition and a greater effective area exposed to said pressure fluid in an unseated condition;

biasing means arranged for exerting a closing force on said closure member, including a first fluid motor;

a control member arranged and disposed for transmitting an unseating force to said closure member;

a normally closed reset valve disposed in said passage means, said reset valve being opened in response to actuation of said control member;

a normally closed discharge valve arranged for controlling discharge of fluid from said container including a second fluid motor arranged for opening 6 said discharge valve and;

a fluid logic circuit connected to said passage means including fluidic switching gates arranged for supplying pressure fluid to said second fluid motor in response to actuation of said control member, and thereafter sequentially switching pressure fluid to said container in response to a preselected low fluid level therein, and switching pressure fluid to said first fluid motor in response to a preselected high fluid level in said container.

2. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes pressure compensation apparatus connected to said passage means arranged for varying the closing force on said closure member in response to pressure changes in said passage means.

3. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes a biasing spring arranged for exerting a closing force on said first fluid motor, and pressure compensation apparatus including a movable spring seat engaging said biasing spring for varying the working length thereof, said movable spring seat being urged in a direction for increasing the biasing force of said biasing spring in response to increased pressure in said passage means and being urged in a direction for decreasing the biasing force of said biasing spring by means of a compensating spring.

4. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, said fluid logic circuit including a bistable flu idic gate having a supply port thereof connected to said passage means downstream of said inlet valve, and having a first control port thereof connected to said passage means downstream of said reset valve effective to initiate flow in a first receiver leg thereof in response to actuation of said control member, said first receiver leg being connected for supplying pressure fluid to said second fluid motor.

5. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 4, said fluid logic circuit including a first monostable fluidic gate having a supply port connected to said first receiver leg of said bistable fluidic gate, said monostable gate having a first receiver leg connected to said second fluid motor and having a second receiver leg connected to a second control port of said bistable fluidic gate, said monostable fluidic gate including a control port effective to switch flow from said first receiver leg to said second receiver leg in response to a predetermined low fluid level in said container.

6. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 5, said fluid logic circuit including a second monostable fluidic gate having a supply port connected to a second receiver leg of said bistable fluidic gate, said second monostable fluidic gate having a first receiver leg thereof open to said container and a second receiver leg thereof connected to said first fluid motor, said second monostable fluidic gate including a control port effective to switch flow from said first receiver leg to said second receiver leg in response to a predetermined high fluid level in said container. 

1. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom including: a source of fluid under pressure; passage means arranged for conducting fluid from said source to said container; a normally closed inlet valve having a movable closure member disposed in said passage means, said closure member including a face arranged for exerting an opening force on said closure member in response to pressure fluid in said passage means, having a lesser effective area exposed to said pressure fluid in a seated condition and a greater effective area exposed to said pressure fluid in an unseated condition; biasing means arranged for exerting a closing force on said closure member, including a first fluid motor; a control member arranged and disposed for transmitting an unseating force to said closure member; a normally closed reset valve disposed in said passage means, said reset valve being opened in response to actuation of said control member; a normally closed discharge valve arranged for controlling discharge of fluid from said container including a second fluid motor arranged for opening said discharge valve and; a fluid logic circuit connected to said passage means including fluidic switching gates arranged for supplying pressure fluid to said second fluid motor in response to actuation of said control member, and thereafter sequentially switching pressure fluid to said container in response to a preselected low fluid level therein, and switching pressure fluid to said first fluid motor in response to a preselected high fluid level in said container.
 2. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes pressure compensation apparatus connected to said passage means arranged for varying the closing force on said closure member in response to pressure changes in said passage means.
 3. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, wherein said biasing means includes a biasing spring arranged for exerting a closing force on said first fluid motor, and pressure compensation apparatus including a movable spring seat engaging said biasing spring for varying the working length thereof, said movable spring seat being urged in a direction for increasing the biasing force of said biasing spring in response to increased pressure in said passage means and being urged in a direction for decreasing the biasing force of said biasing spring by means of a compensating spring.
 4. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 1, said fluid logic circuit including a bistable fluidic gate having a supply port thereof connected to said passage means downstream of said inlet valve, and having a first control port thereof connected to said passage means downstream of said reset valve effective to initiate flow in a first receiver leg thereof in response to actuation of said control member, said first receiver leg being connected for supplying pressure fluId to said second fluid motor.
 5. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 4, said fluid logic circuit including a first monostable fluidic gate having a supply port connected to said first receiver leg of said bistable fluidic gate, said monostable gate having a first receiver leg connected to said second fluid motor and having a second receiver leg connected to a second control port of said bistable fluidic gate, said monostable fluidic gate including a control port effective to switch flow from said first receiver leg to said second receiver leg in response to a predetermined low fluid level in said container.
 6. A system for controlling admission of fluid to a container and discharge of fluid therefrom according to claim 5, said fluid logic circuit including a second monostable fluidic gate having a supply port connected to a second receiver leg of said bistable fluidic gate, said second monostable fluidic gate having a first receiver leg thereof open to said container and a second receiver leg thereof connected to said first fluid motor, said second monostable fluidic gate including a control port effective to switch flow from said first receiver leg to said second receiver leg in response to a predetermined high fluid level in said container. 